Ecologists represent the relative amounts of energy in an ecosystem in an ecological pyramid. The pyramid is divided into sections, each representing one trophic level. An ecological pyramid can show energy, biomass or the number of organisms in a food web (a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains).
A pyramid of numbers shows the number of organisms at each trophic (relating to nutrition) level. In pyramids of numbers, each successive trophic level is occupied by fewer organisms. Thus the number of herbivores like zebras and wild beasts is greater than the carnivores like lions.
A pyramid of biomass illustrates the total biomass at each successive trophic level. Biomass is the total amount of living matter at a trophic level. The pyramids of mass show a progressive reduction of biomass in the successive trophic level. The pyramids of mass show a progressive reduction of biomass in the successive trophic levels.
A pyramid of energy indicates the energy content in the biomass of a trophic level. These pyramids shown that less energy reaches each successive trophic from the level beneath it because some of the energy at the lower level is used by the organisms to perform work, while some of it is lost.
A pyramid of numbers shows the number of organisms at each trophic (relating to nutrition) level. In pyramids of numbers, each successive trophic level is occupied by fewer organisms. Thus the number of herbivores like zebras and wild beasts is greater than the carnivores like lions.
A pyramid of biomass illustrates the total biomass at each successive trophic level. Biomass is the total amount of living matter at a trophic level. The pyramids of mass show a progressive reduction of biomass in the successive trophic level. The pyramids of mass show a progressive reduction of biomass in the successive trophic levels.
A pyramid of energy indicates the energy content in the biomass of a trophic level. These pyramids shown that less energy reaches each successive trophic from the level beneath it because some of the energy at the lower level is used by the organisms to perform work, while some of it is lost.
